Hanger

ABSTRACT

A hanger which comprises a load-supporting member pivotally coupled to an arcuate member, said arcuate member being slidably connected to a mounting plate which carries a pressure-sensitive tape for attachment of the hanger to a vertical surface. Under load, the load-supporting member is pressed against the arcuate member causing the arcuate member to apply pressure components to the mounting plate in a direction opposing the force-moment which normally tends to pull the hanger away from the surface to which it is affixed.

United States Patent Mwanyoha [451 Sept. 12, 1972 HANGER Primary ExaminerWilliam H. Schultz 72 Inventor: Bakari Mwanyoha, 40 Washington Mick Street, East Orange, NJ. 07017 [22] Filed: March 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 126,435

[52] US. Cl. ..248l205 A [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 7/14 [58] Field of Search ..248/205 A, 467

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,311,339 3/1967 Frye ..248l205 A 3,612,458 10/1971 Mwanyoha ..248/205 A [57] ABSTRACT A hanger which comprises a load-supporting member pivotally coupled to an arcuate member, said arcuate member being slidably connected to a mounting plate which carries a pressure-sensitive tape for attachment of the hanger to a vertical surface. Under load, the load-supporting member is pressed against the arcuate member causing the arcuate member to apply pressure components to the mounting plate in a direction opposing the force-moment which normally tends to pull the hanger away from the surface to which it is affixed.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 22 I972 BA/(AR/ MWANYOHA INVENTOR.

HANGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hangers which are secured to a surface by means of screws, nail, etc. suffer from numerous shortcomings apart from the fact that a tool is required for the installation thereof. When such hanger is removed there remain unattractive marks and holes formed by the screws, etc. Also, such hangers are not conveniently attachable to a tile surface or the like. These particular shortcomings are overcome by hangers which are affixed to a surface by means of a pressure-sensitive tape, but these hangers have heretofore been suitable for supporting only relatively light loads. In a hanger made in accordance with this invention, the load is supported in such a manner that a pressure component, due to the load, is applied to the pressure-sensitive tape in a direction to oppose the force-moment which otherwise tends to'pull the tape from the surface to which it is affixed, thereby increasing the load'supporting capacity SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An arcuate member is slidably supported in a channel-like portion formed in a mounting plate carrying a double-coated, pressure-sensitive tape. A load-supporting device is pivotally-coupled to the arcuate member for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis lying above the horizontal median plane of the arcuate member. Under load, the load-supporting device is pressed against the surface of the arcuate member, thereby causing end portions of the arcuate member to apply pressure to the mounting plate, such pressure being in a direction to oppose the force-mount normally tending to pull the upper portion of the hanger away from the surface to which it is affixed.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved hanger of the type which is affixed to a surface by means of a pressure-sensitive tape.

An object of this invention is the provision of a hanger constructed and arranged so that the load carried by the hanger develops pressure-components in a direction to oppose the force which normally tends to pull the hanger away from a surface to which it is attached.

An object of this invention is the provision of a hanger adapted to be affixed to a surface by means of a pressure-sensitive tape, which hanger comprises an arcuate member removably attached to a mounting plate carrying the tape, and a load-supporting member pivotally coupled to the arcuate member and having a portion thereof in sliding engagement with the outer surface of the arcuate member.

An object of this invention is the provision of a hanger including an arcuate member which is supported by a channel-like mounting plate carrying a pressure-sensitive tape for attachment of the hanger to a painted wall, said arcuate member being slidably removable from the mounting plate while leaving the mounting plate attached to the wall, which mounting plate thereafter can be peeled off from the wall together with the tape, thus minimizing damage to the paint.

The above-stated and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hanger made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the energy absorbing spring;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified form of I the load-supporting member; a

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a hanger made in accordance with another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI--VI of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mounting plate 10, preferably made of aluminum having a thickness of the order of one thirty-second inch, is preformed to have an upper channel-like portion 11 and a lower channellike portion 12. A double-coated, pressure-sensitive tape l3is attached to the flat surface portions of the mounting plate. A metal, arcuate member 14 has an upper offset portion 15 slidably received in the upper, channeHike portion 11 of the mounting plate, it being noted that such upper portion 15 terminates in a vertical arm 16. The lower end portion 17, of the arcuate. member, is offset and slidably received in the lower channel-like portion 12 of the mounting plate. The space between the parallel arms of the offset portion 17, of the arcuate member, accommodates the vertical and horizontal legs of an energy absorbing spring 18, which spring has the configuration shown in FIG. 3. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the load to be supported by the hanger is carried by a relatively wide hook-like member 23, provided with a slot 24, and a flat intermediate member 25 having a thickness of the order of one-eighth inch. The hook member 23 preferably has a shape appropriate for supporting a particular load such as, for example, a curtain rod 31. It will be noted that the intermediate member 25 has a reduced-width portion 26 passing through a slot 27 formed in the arcuate member 14, with the inner end of such reducedwidth portion curled and coupled to the extended central portion 28 of the spring 18. A washer.

29 is carried by the reduced-width portion of the intermediate member, said washer having a diameter exceeding the width of the slot 27 and being in sliding engagement with the arcuate member. The exposed end of the intermediate member 25 passes through the slot 24 formed in the hook member 23. It will be apparent that the arcuate member 14 and the components supported by this member are removable as a unit from the mounting plate by sliding the arcuate member along the channel-like portions of the mounting plate in a plane normal to the paper.

Assuming the hanger is affixed to a wall, a load, such as the drapery rod 31, will tend to cause the hook member 23 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the exposed end of the intermediate member 25, thereby applying a horizontal pressure component to the vertical arm 16, which pressure component is transmitted to the upper portion of the mounting plate. This pressure component, which varies directly with the load, is opposed to the force-moment normally tending to pull the upper portion of mounting plate away from the wall. At the same time, the load results in a downward pressure on the intermediate member 25 causing this member to pivot in a clockwise direction about an axis formed by the coupling between the intermediate member and the spring 18. The washer 29, which is in sliding engagement with the .outer surface of the arcuate member, tends to pivot about a radius (r), which radius is less than the radius (R) of the arcuate member. The greater the load, the greater will be the pivotal movement of the intermediate member and, consequently, the greater will be the pressure exerted upon the arcuate member by the washer 29. The arcuate member obeys the static and dynamic laws of arches and transmits substantially horizontal pressure components to the upper and lower portions of the mounting plate. These pressure components, which vary directly with the load, are opposed to the force-moment which normally tends to pull the adhesive-mounted fixture away from the wall.

In hangers of the type to which this invention is directed, the load is supported at a point spaced from the wall. Thus, the load maintains a constant pulling force, or force-moment, which tends to pull the upper portion of the hanger away from the wall. In time, depending upon the load, the adhesive peels away from the wall. In a hanger made as herein described, the force-moment is opposed by the substantially horizontal pressure components applied to the mounting plate and to the adhesive through the arcuate member and, therefore, such hanger is capable to supporting loads considerably heavier than those which can be supported by prior hangers of comparable size. Also, a hanger of the described construction permits the removal of the arcuate member and its supported components without removal of the mounting plate from the wall, whereby the user may interchange load-supporting members of different configurations.

Furthermore, it is known that when an adhesive tape is affixed between a painted wall and a thick, non-flexible plate, the paint will peel off the wall when such plate is removed. The relatively thin mounting plate of the described hanger is of sufficient strength and rigidity to retain the components of the hanger in the described operative relationship. However, when the arcuate member is slidably removed from the mounting plate, such plate may be flexed so that both the plate and the tape can be peeled from the wall without damaging the paint.

Reference now is made to FIG. 4 showing a modified construction of the hanger. Here, the upper, offset portion of the arcuate member 14, is slidablewithin the channel-like upper portion 11' of the mounting plate 10'. The load-supporting means is a unitary, flat member 31 having a portion passing through the slot 27, formed in the arcuate member, and curled about the extended, central portion 28 of the energy absorbing spring 18. When a load is applied to the bifurcated end 34, of the member 32, the washer 29 applies a pressure against the arcuate member, as has been explained hereinabove, whereby the offset end portions of the arcuate member apply substantially horizontal pressure components to the upper and lower, channel-like portions of the mounting plate. The load-carrying capacity of this hanger is somewhat less than that constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the invention and wherein the mounting plate 35, carrying the pressure-sensitive tape 36, has a single, channellike configuration. The central portion 29', of the spring 18' has an increased length and extends through a slot 37 formed in the arcuate member 38. One end of the hook member 39 has a reduced width and is curled about the exposed central portion of the spring, while the remainder of the hook member has a width exceeding that of the slot 37. Under load, the hook member presses against the arcuate member, whereby the latter applies substantially horizontal pressure components to the upper and lower portions of the mounting plate.

Having now described the invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent Is set forth in the following claims.

1. A hanger comprising,

a. a mounting plate carrying a pressure-sensitive tape for affixing the mounting plate to a vertical surface, said mounting plate having a channel-like portion,

b. an arcuate member having an offset portion slidable in the channel-like portion of the mounting plate,

c. a spring member disposed between the said mounting plate and the said arcuate member, and

. a load-supporting means pivotally coupled to said spring member for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said load-supporting means including a portion thereof in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said arcuate member at a point above the horizontal median plane of the arcuate member.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, including a slot formed in the arcuate member; wherein the said spring member has a portion extending through the said slot, and wherein the said load-supporting means is a hookmember which is pivotally coupled to the spring member.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the said mounting plate is flexible.

4. A hanger comprising,

a. a mounting plate carrying a pressure-sensitive tape for affixing the hanger to a vertical surface, said mounting plate having a pair of channel-like portions,

b. an arcuate member having offset end portions slidable in the channel-like portions of the mounting plate,

c. a spring member disposed between said mounting plate and said arcuate member,

d. a slot formed in the said arcuate member,

e. load-supporting means having a portion thereof pivotally coupled to the said spring member, and

f. a washer carried by said load supporting means and in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said arcuate member at a point above the horizontal median plane of the arcuate member.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the said mounting plate is flexible and wherein said loadsupporting means is a unitary member having a bifurcated end.

6. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the said mounting plate is flexible and wherein the said load-supporting means comprises a first member extending through the said slot and having one end pivotally coupled to said spring member, and a hookmember pivotally coupled to the other end of said first member.

7. The invention as recited in claim 6, wherein one of the offset end portions of the said arcuate member terminates in a vertical arm external of the associated channel-like portion of the mounting plate, and wherein the said hook-member engages the said vertical arm.

8. The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the said spring member is a unitary member having a pair of co-axial coiled portions extending from an uncoiled central portion, the other ends of the said coiled portions being joined to leg portions which are substantially normal to the axis of said coiled portions, said leg portions having offset ends directed toward each other.

* IF l 

1. A hanger comprising, a. a mounting plate carrying a pressure-sensitive tape for affixing the mounting plate to a vertical surface, said mounting plate having a channel-like portion, b. an arcuate member having an offset portion slidable in the channel-like portion of the mounting plate, c. a spring member disposed between the said mounting plate and the said arcuate member, and d. a load-supporting means pivotally coupled to said spring member for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said load-supporting means including a portion thereof in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said arcuate member at a point above the horizontal median plane of the arcuate member.
 2. The invention as recited in claim 1, including a slot formed in the arcuate member; wherein the said spring member has a portion extending through the said slot, and wherein the said load-supporting means is a hook-member which is pivotally coupled to the spring member.
 3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the said mounting plate is flexible.
 4. A hanger comprising, a. a mounting plate carrying a pressure-sensitive tape for affixing the hanger to a vertical surface, said mounting plate having a pair of channel-like portions, b. an arcuate member having offset end portions slidable in the channel-like portions of the mounting plate, c. a spring member disposed between said mounting plate and said arcuate member, d. a slot formed in the said arcuate member, e. load-supporting means having a portion thereof pivotally coupled to the said spring member, and f. a washer carried by said load-supporting means and in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said arcuate member at a point above the horizontal median plane of the arcuate member.
 5. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the said mounting plate is flexible and wherein said load-supporting means is a unitary member having a bifurcated end.
 6. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the said mounting plate is flexible and wherein the said load-supporting means comprises a first member extending through the said slot and having one end pivotally coupled to said spring member, and a hook-member pivotally coupled to the other end of said first member.
 7. The invention as recited in claim 6, wherein one of the offset end portions of the said arcuate member terminates in a vertical arm external of the associated channel-like portion of the mounting plate, and wherein the said hook-member engages the said vertical arm.
 8. The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the said spring member is a unitary member having a pair of co-axial coiled portions extending from an uncoiled central portion, the other ends of the said coiled portions being joined to leg portions which are substantially normal to the axis of said coiled portions, said leg portions having offset ends directed toward each other. 